Subject: IWG Memphis Commercial Appeal Dobson/SBC letter
From: Interfaith Working Group <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 22:53:46 -0400 (EDT)

June 14, 1998

Memphis Commercial Appeal
PO Box 334
Memphis, TN 38101

Dear Editors:

We were very disturbed by David Waters' June 12 report
on the Southern Baptist Convention and James Dobson's
speech to the convention, beginning with Waters'
assertion that the Convention had "rallied to defend
Christianity."  There are, after all, many varieties of
Christianity, and many Christians who disagree with
virtually all of the resolutions and statements from
this Convention.  

For example, despite Dobson's assertion, a person
supporting gay rights and believing that abortion
should be legal is not by definition an atheist any
more than a person opposed to legalized abortion and
equal rights for sexual minorities is automatically a
believer in God.  Nor is it practical to characterize
one moral system as "absolute" and any system with
different values as "relative;" anyone can believe
absolutely in any moral system, and many people believe
absolutely in a system that promotes love and justice
above all else.  

Finally, we must question the logic of a man who claims
that "moral relativists" promote violence, but who also
says that he approves of a resolution passed by the
convention which states that: "The essence of combat is
to use force against an enemy in order to kill, damage
or destroy...a purpose and essence aligned with the
male role." 

Sincerely,
Barbara Purdom     Christopher Purdom
Interfaith Working Group Coordinators

The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 15 congregations and
organizations and 58 clergy from 15 religious traditions. If you are in 
the general Philadelphia area and represent a congregation or religious 
organization or are clergy, let us know if you want to be added - all faiths 
are welcome. We will also be happy to help start similar organizations in 
other areas.

-- 

Interfaith Working Group                Religious organizations, congregations
[email-masked]                      and clergy supporting gay rights,
http://www.libertynet.org/iwg/          reproductive freedom, and the 
215-235-3050                            separation of church and state.